Department of Defense Offers Refreshed "Frame of Choice" Eyewear Program

YORKTOWN, Va. (NNS) -- Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Activity (NOSTRA), Yorktown, Virginia, has announced active-duty military members have a newly refreshed selection of eyewear frames to choose from. The "Frame of Choice" updates were made and are now available Nov. 3.

James Darrah, director, NOSTRA Quality Operational Support noted, "The new frames come in a variety of plastics and metals, and reflect current styles in today's commercial market. With the exception of the 'Elite' frame, all other old Frame of Choice spectacles from the 2004 program have been removed."

The Frame of Choice Spectacle Program is a collection of civilian-style frames offered to permanent party active-duty Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard members. Reserve components on active duty for 31 days or more, and members of the National Guard who are called to active federal service for 31 days or more are also eligible. Military retirees, including retired general and/or flag officers, are not eligible for the Frame of Choice Spectacle Program.

The standard issue frame, which is not part of the Frame of Choice program, previously transitioned from the male and female brown S9 frames to the unisex black 5A and 5AM frames for eligible activity-duty personnel and retirees.

"The Ophthalmic Services instruction delineates which beneficiaries are authorized to receive the new Frame of Choice eyewear," said Cmdr. Brian Hatch, NOSTRA executive officer. "While we want to get this information out to the masses, we need everyone to be clear on eligibility. The complexities of ophthalmic product authorizations are well circumscribed in the current Ophthalmic Services Instruction. Interested personnel should consult the services' regulations -- Army Regulation 40-63, SECNAV Inst. 6810.1, or Air Force Instruction 44-121."

Capt. Paul Andre is the commanding officer of NOSTRA, the program executor for the Department of Defense Optical Fabrication Enterprise, and is charged with oversight of military optical fabrication worldwide. NOSTRA is the largest Department of Defense Optical Fabrication Lab and the home of the Department of Defense's only training program for opticians and optical fabrication specialists at its Tri-Services Optician School.